Note: Last update of this article occurred on February 1st, 2021
Can I travel to Germany?
Individuals entering the Federal Republic of Germany from another country and who have spent time in a risk area in the ten days before arriving in Germany, are required by law to travel directly to their home or other appropriate accommodation and to stay there for ten days (quarantine). Violations constitute an administrative offence and may be punished by a fine of up to 25,000 euro.
A risk area is a country or region outside of the Federal Republic of Germany where there is an increased risk of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus when the traveller enters Germany. Germany’s Robert Koch Institute continuously updates a list of risk areas.
Before entering Germany, individuals must register here and have confirmation of their registration with you when you arrive. This confirmation will be checked by the transport provider and may also be checked by the Federal Police at the border checkpoint. The Federal Police are also conducting checks at Germany’s borders within the Schengen area, for example of travellers entering by land.
In addition, individuals must be tested for COVID-19 no more than 48 hours after entering Germany and be able to present the responsible authority with proof of a negative test result or corresponding medical certificate confirming the absence of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, on request in the ten days after arrival.
Note: If you are entering Germany from an area with a particularly high risk of infection, you must be tested before departure, because you will need to present the responsible authority or border official with proof of a negative test result when you arrive in Germany. If you are using a transport provider, you will need to present this provider with proof of a negative test result before you depart. For example, if you are flying from the UK to Germany, you will have to present your airline with proof of a negative test result before boarding your flight. The same applies to travelling by train, bus or ship.
Areas with a particularly high risk of infection are those with particularly high numbers of cases (high incidence areas) and regions in which virus variants of concern (areas of variant of concern) have spread. These areas are also listed on the Robert Koch Institute website
Germany’s federal states issue rules on quarantine under their own authority. For this reason, please consult the website of the federal state you are travelling to, where you live or where you intend to stay, as rules may vary from state to state.
More details can be found on the Robert Koch Institute’s and the Federal Ministry of Health’s websites.
IMPORTANT:
The rules for countries that do not belong to the European Union apply to entry from the United Kingdom from 1 January 2021. Travellers are only permitted to enter Germany if they are returning to their place of residence, if they serve in an important role or if they have an urgent need to travel.
No pandemic-related travel restrictions apply to travellers entering Germany from another member state of the European Union or from the Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland. The current travel restrictions apply to travellers entering from countries that do not belong to the EU and are not listed in the previous sentence.
Travellers are also required to complete digital registration on entry, to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test result depending on the risk status of the country of departure, and to comply with the quarantine regulations of the relevant federal states.
Note for third-country nationals:
On 30 June 2020, the Council of the EU adopted the Council Recommendation on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction (Council document 2020/912). According to this recommendation, member states intend to lift, in a coordinated and gradual way, the temporary restriction of non-essential travel into the EU for residents of certain third countries (that is, those who have their domicile or habitual residence there). The list of these third countries is regularly reviewed and updated as necessary.
Based on this recommendation, Germany implemented the entry restrictions as of 2 July 2020. These restrictions are updated as required by circumstances (when countries are classified as risk areas); the latest such update was on 1 February 2021
Germany allows unrestricted entry for residents of the following countries:
- Australia
- Japan (up to 1 February 24:00 H)
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Thailand
As soon as the possibility of mutual entry is confirmed., the list is to be expanded to include
- China
- Hong Kong and Macao SARs of the People’s Republic of China
For all persons residing in a third country that is not included in the above list, the current restrictions on travel continue to apply, i.e. these persons may enter Germany only if they serve in an important role or if there is an urgent need for their travel (Information on what constitutes an imperative need for entry can be found here). A person is considered to reside in a country if they have their domicile or habitual residence there. A person is specifically considered to have their domicile in a country if they have spent the past six months there.
The restrictions do not apply to German citizens.
EU citizens and nationals of Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland and the members of their immediate family (spouse, unmarried minor children, parents of minors) are exempted from the travel restrictions.
The same applies to third-country nationals who already have a longer-term right of residence in an EU member state or a Schengen country and the members of their immediate family, provided the relevant passport and visa requirements are met.
Initial entry by third-country nationals, however, is only permitted if they demonstrate that one of the exemptions from the entry restrictions applies to them, that is, if they have either their domicile or their habitual residence in a third country on the German positive list or if there is an urgent need for the entry. Regarding entry by family members. Information on what special conditions apply to entry by family members who are nationals of a third country that is not on the positive list can be found here
Regulations of the respective federal states are linked on this website.
Information on the designation of international risk areas
New “areas of variant of concern”, “high incidence areas”, “risk areas” and regions that are no longer considered as risk areas are effective from Sunday January 31, 2021, at 0:00 am.
1. Variants of concern (effective from January 29th)
Information on the designation of international risk areas
- Brazil (since 19 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Eswatini (since 31 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Ireland (since 13 January 2021; already a risk area since 9 January 2020)
- Lesotho (since 31 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Portugal (since 27 January 2021 incl all autonomous regions, already high incidence area since 24 January 2021 and risk area since 8 November 2020)
- South Africa (since 13 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (since 13 January 2021 incl. all British Overseas Territories, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands; already a risk area since 15 November 2020)
2. High incidence areas (effective from January 29th)
Information on the designation of international risk areas
- Afghanistan (high incidence area since 31 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Albania (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Andorra (Principality of Andorra) (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 26 August 2020)
- Bolivia (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Botswana (high incidence area since 31 January 2021; already a risk area since 22 November 2020)
- Colombia (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Czech Republic (high incidence area since 24 January; already a risk area since 25 September 2020)
- Egypt (high incidence area since 19 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Estonia (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 26 December 2020)
- Ecuador (high incidence area since 31 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Iran (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Israel (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 3 July 2020)
- Kosovo (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Latvia (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 22 November 2020)
- Lebanon (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Lithuania (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 22 November 2020)
- Malawi (high incidence area since 31 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Mexico (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Montenegro (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 17 July 2020)
- Mozambique (high incidence area since 31 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Namibia (high incidence area since 31 January 2021; already a risk area since 26 December 2020)
- North Macedonia (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Palestinian territories (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 3 July 2020)
- Panama (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Serbia (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Slovenia (high incidence area since 24 January 2021; already a risk area since 1 November 2020)
- Spain (high incidence area since 24 January 2021 incl. all autonomous communities and enclaves; already a risk area since 2 September 2020;)
- Sudan (high incidence area since 31 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Syrian Arab Republic (high incidence area since 31 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- United Arab Emirates (high incidence area since 24 January; already a risk area since 23 September 2020)
- USA (high incidence area since 24 January 2021 incl. all outlying territories; already a risk area since 3 July 2020)
- Zambia (high incidence area since 31 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
- Zimbabwe (high incidence area since 31 January 2021; already a risk area since 15 June 2020)
3. Risk areas (effective from January 29th)
The countries listed below are designated as currently presenting an increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2:
- 🇦🇱 Albania (since 15 June)
- 🇩🇿 Algeria (since 15 June)
- 🇦🇩 Andorra – Principality of Andorra (since 26 August)
- 🇦🇴 Angola (since 15 June)
- 🇦🇷 Argentina (since 15 June)
- 🇦🇲 Armenia (since 15 June)
- 🇦🇹 Austria: the complete country with exception of the municipality Jungholz andMittelberg / Kleinwalsertal (since 1 November)
- 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (since 15 June)
- 🇧🇸 Bahamas (since 15 June)
- 🇧🇭 Bahrain (since 15 June)
- 🇧🇩 Bangladesh (since 15 June)
- 🇧🇾 Belarus (since 15 June)
- 🇧🇪 Belgium (since 30 September)
- 🇧🇿 Belize (since 15 June)
- 🇧🇯 Benin (since 15 June)
- 🇧🇹 Bhutan (since 15 June)
- 🇧🇴 Bolivia (since 15 June)
- 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina (since 15 June)
- 🇧🇷 Brazil (since 15 June)
- 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
- 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso (since 15 June)
- 🇧🇮 Burundi (since 15 June)
- 🇨🇲 Cameroon (since 15 June)
- 🇨🇦 Canada (since 15 November)
- 🇨🇻 Cape Verde (since 3 July)
- 🇨🇫 Central African Republic (since 15 June)
- 🇹🇩 Chad (since 15 June)
- 🇨🇱 Chile (since 15 June)
- 🇰🇲 Comoros (since 15 June)
- 🇨🇷 Costa Rica (since 15 June)
- 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire (since 15 June)
- 🇨🇾 Cyprus (since 1 November)
- 🇭🇷 Croatia (since 1 November)
- 🇩🇰 Denmark: the complete country with exception of the Faroe Islands and Greenland. (since 8 November)
- 🇩🇯 Djibouti (since 15 June)
- 🇩🇲 Dominica (since 17 June)
- 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic (since 15 June)
- 🇨🇩 DR Congo (since 15 June)
- 🇸🇻 El Salvador (since 15 June)
- 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea (since 15 June)
- 🇪🇷 Eritrea (since 15 June)
- 🇪🇹 Ethiopia (since 15 June)
- 🇫🇮 Finland: Uusimaa (since 22 November), Päijät-Häme (since 6 December), North Ostrobothnia (since 6 December)
- 🇫🇷 France: Complete Mainland France (since 17 October), French Guiana (since 21 August), French Polynesia (since 15 November), St. Martin (since 26 August)
- 🇬🇦 Gabon (since 15 June)
- 🇬🇲 Gambia (since 15 June)
- 🇬🇪 Georgia (since 7 October)
- 🇬🇭 Ghana (since 15 June)
- 🇬🇷 Greece – the following regions are classified as risk areas: West Macedonia (since 1 November), Attica (since 8 November), Central Macedonia (since 8 November), Thessaly (since 8 November), North Aegean (since 15 November), West Greece (since 29 November)
- 🇬🇹 Guatemala (since 15 June)
- 🇬🇶 Guinea (since 15 June)
- 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau (since 15 June)
- 🇬🇫 Guyana (since 15 June)
- 🇭🇹 Haiti (since 15 June)
- 🇭🇳 Honduras (since 15 June)
- 🇭🇺 Hungary (since 1 November)
- 🇮🇳 India (since 15 June)
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia (since 15 June)
- 🇮🇶 Iraq (since 15 June)
- 🇮🇹 Italy (since 8 November)
- 🇯🇲 Jamaica (since 15 June)
- 🇯🇴 Jordan (since 7 October)
- 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan (since 15 June)
- 🇰🇪 Kenya (since 15 June)
- 🇰🇵 Korea (Democratic People’s Republic, North Korea) (since 15 June)
- 🇰🇼 Kuwait (since 15 June)
- 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan (since 15 June)
- 🇱🇷 Liberia (since 15 June)
- 🇱🇾 Libya (since 15 June)
- 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein (since October 24)
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg (14 July – 20 August and since 25 September)
- 🇲🇬 Madagascar (since 15 June)
- 🇲🇻 Maldives (since 17 July)
- 🇲🇱 Mali (since 15 June)
- 🇲🇹 Malta (since 17 October)
- 🇲🇷 Mauritania (since 15 June)
- 🇲🇨 Monaco (since 1 November)
- 🇲🇳 Mongolia (since 15 June)
- 🇲🇦 Morocco (since 15 June)
- 🇳🇵Nepal (since 15 June)
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands: complete country (incl. constituent countries and the Caribbean parts of the Netherlands) (since 17 October)
- 🇳🇮 Nicaragua (since 15 June)
- 🇳🇪 Niger (since 15 June)
- 🇳🇬 Nigeria (since 15 June)
- 🇳🇴 Norway – the following counties are classified as risk areas: Oslo (since 8 November), and Viken (since 15 November)
- 🇴🇲 Oman (since 15 June)
- 🇵🇰 Pakistan (since 15 June)
- 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea (since 17 June)
- 🇵🇾 Paraguay (since 15 June)
- 🇵🇪 Peru (since 15 June)
- 🇵🇭 Philippines (since 15 June)
- 🇵🇱 Poland (since October 24)
- 🇶🇦 Qatar (since 15 June)
- 🇲🇩 Republic of Moldova (since 15 June)
- 🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo (since 15 June)
- 🇷🇴 Romania – (since 7 October)
- 🇷🇺 Russian Federation (since 15 June)
- 🇸🇲 San Marino (since 1 November)
- 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe (since 16 June)
- 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia (since 15 June)
- 🇸🇳 Senegal (since 15 June)
- 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone (since 15 June)
- 🇸🇰 Slovakia (since 17 October)
- 🇸🇴 Somalia (since 15 June)
- 🇸🇸 South Sudan (since 15 June)
- 🇸🇷 Suriname (since 15 June)
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland (since October 24)
- 🇹🇯 Tajikistan (since 15 June)
- 🇹🇿 Tanzania (since 15 June)
- 🇹🇱 Timor Leste (East Timor) (since 17 June)
- 🇹🇬 Togo (since 15 June)
- 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago (since 15 June)
- 🇹🇳 Tunisia (since 7 October)
- 🇹🇷 Turkey (since 15 June)
- 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan (since 17 June)
- 🇻🇦 Vatican City State (since 1 November)
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine (since 15 June)
- 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan (since 15 June)
- 🇻🇪 Venezuela (since 15 June)
- 🇾🇪 Yemen (since 15 June)
For a full list go here
Classification as a risk area is the result of a joint analysis and decision-making process by the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community. This classification as a risk area is based on a two-step assessment. Initially, it is determined in which countries/regions there were more than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the last seven days.
